Samsung Galaxy Note 5: Return of the Phablet Supremo!

You have heard Samsung being slammed heavily for churning out Android handsets with nearly same design and features, but its premium phablet aka Galaxy Note has always garnered praise. In fact, the various versions of Galaxy Note phablet remain a strong seller in the Korean giant’s portfolio. The device has been liked much by users for its stunning display and the S pen stylus that helps enhance productivity greatly. After its debut in 2011, the Galaxy Note has got 4 revamps and the latest version, namely Galaxy Note 5 has been unveiled recently by Samsung.

Design and build: Excellent

While the Galaxy Note 5 does not deviate from the typical Samsung handset design that you have become accustomed to over years, it looks really up class. After a long time, the company is ditching plastic for its high end devices. It was evident when the Galaxy S 6 and 6 Edge were released, as it is. The aluminium-glass combination makes the device look up-class and adds to the durability for sure. You can buy the new Galaxy Note 5 in hues like Black Sapphire, White Pearl and Silver Titan etc. Even the S Pen has a sleek aluminium finish, matching the device.

(Source: www.forbes.com)

For a phablet the Galaxy Note 5 is rather lightweight and it weighs only 171 grams. Samsung has used Series 7000 aluminium to make this device. The same metal is used by Apple to make the Apple Watch and it is said to be 60 percent hardier than regular aluminium. Besides, the phablet is wrapped with Gorilla Glass 4- offering great protection from wear and tear. The curved edges and matte back plate makes holdings the device easier. You will also find operating the device with single hand easier.

Display: Stunning and near flawless

You get a stunning 5.7 inch Quad HD screen in the phablet boasting AMOLED technology. With a superb 518 ppi pixel density it races ahead of most rival contenders. There are devices with 4K display now-including one by Sony-but do you really need 4K UHD resolution on a portable device? The colours pop out, images look darn sharp and you will also find the viewing angles pretty decent. Samsung has embraced the well known philosophy- “If it’s not broken, don’t fix it.”

S Pen: Stylish stylus!

(Source: androidcentral.com)

The S Pen was a standout feature of Galaxy Note and it still continues to satisfy users. The design and functionality of the stylus has improved in the latest reincarnation. You will love the sleek aluminium body of the latest iteration, which has a push-button. Compared to its predecessor, the S pen bundled with Galaxy Note 5 features enhanced pressure sensitivity.

Hardware: As Good as it gets

You will expect impressive hardware spec inside a top end phablet and the Galaxy Note 5 ticks nearly all boxes in this segment. There is no Intel or Qualcomm chipset running inside the gorgeous device. Instead Samsung has used its own Exynos 7420 octa-core CPU. The powerful CPU is complemented by 4GB RAM and a Mali-T760MP8 GPU. The same GPU runs inside the Galaxy S6 too. With such configuration, the phablet runs very fast and handles heavy multitasking with ease. In synthetic benchmarks like the GeekBench3 and SunSpider, it scores extremely well.

The Galaxy Note 5 comes with either 32 or 64 GB storage, but Samsung has not included a MicroSD card slot. Wireless connectivity options are aplenty in the phablet. From 802.11ac dual band Wi-Fi to NFC and Bluetooth 4.2- you get it all. The sensors like accelerometer, barometer and proximity sensor are also there. The device also comes equipped with a fingerprint reader. Its accuracy however is not as good as that of the iPhone or even OnePlus Two.

Camera: reasonably good

The Galaxy Note 5 does not offer many improvements in terms of imaging prowess compared to its predecessor, but that is not really a bad thing! The 16 MP camera at the back of the device features OIS and 4K video recording capability. One striking feature of the phablet is its ability to display HDR before taking shots. You can capture impressive shots with the device and crispness and color reproduction is pretty good. While it does not feature the much touted laser autofocus present in rivals like OnePlus Two, be assured that the phablet is no slouch. It sets in focus and captures images pretty fast. There is a front facing 5 MP snapper as well.

Samsung has packed in useful software for the camera in Galaxy Note 5. The shooting modes are aplenty and you may like the YouTube Broadcast mode particularly interesting. It is useful for social media buffs.

Software: no more bloat

(Source: galaxynote5.com)

If you have grudged about the apps and heavy UI used by Samsung on top of Android in its devices, the Galaxy Note 5 comes as a breeze of fresh air! The Android 5.1.1 that runs in it is not much modified. The TouchWiz interface is still in there, but it looks more polished. Inclusion of mobile Microsoft Office suite is quite commendable and you also get the standard S Health apps. The stylus lets you execute the air commands with more ease.

Battery life: could be better

The Galaxy Note 5 is equipped with a 3000mAh battery which cannot be removed. This is a reduction in capacity compared to the predecessor. For a large phablet it falls a tad short- more so for heavy users. Most users can squeeze a day of runtime though. Samsung’s decision not to bump up display resolution may work in its favour as well.

Samsung has been clever to include wireless charging capabilities in the device and says you can charge it from zero to 100 percent in two hours approx. Even when you do not have a wireless charger, the fast charging capability of the phablet can be used.

Summing it up

Overall, the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 leaves you mighty impressed. It gets almost all things right, and the few caveats are not necessarily deal breakers. Ditching the plastic and usage of premium metal lends it a classy look and adds to longevity. The revamped S pen will be loved by productivity seekers. Hardware spec wise, the phablet leaves little room for grudges. It is a powerful device that blazes through all things you throw at it. The camera, while not much upgraded, offers excellent performances and it is pretty fast too. Some fans may be miffed by exclusion of external storage and the slightly smaller capacity battery. However, the Note 5 more than redeems for these flaws by packing in wireless charging and a stunning display.

You have heard Samsung being slammed heavily for churning out Android handsets with nearly same design and features, but its premium phablet aka Galaxy Note has always garnered praise. In fact, the various versions of Galaxy Note phablet remain a strong seller in the Korean giant’s portfolio. The device...

You have heard Samsung being slammed heavily for churning out Android handsets with nearly same design and features, but its premium phablet aka Galaxy Note has always garnered praise. In fact, the various versions of Galaxy Note phablet remain a strong seller in the Korean giant’s portfolio. The device has been liked much by users for its stunning display and the S pen stylus that helps enhance productivity greatly. After its debut in 2011, the Galaxy Note has got 4 revamps and the latest version, namely Galaxy Note 5 has been unveiled recently by Samsung.
<strong>Design and build: Excellent</strong>
While the Galaxy Note 5 does not deviate from the typical Samsung handset design that you have become accustomed to over years, it looks really up class. After a long time, the company is ditching plastic for its high end devices. It was evident when the Galaxy S 6 and 6 Edge were released, as it is. The aluminium-glass combination makes the device look up-class and adds to the durability for sure. You can buy the new Galaxy Note 5 in hues like Black Sapphire, White Pearl and Silver Titan etc. Even the S Pen has a sleek aluminium finish, matching the device.
For a phablet the Galaxy Note 5 is rather lightweight and it weighs only 171 grams. Samsung has used Series 7000 aluminium to make this device. The same metal is used by Apple to make the Apple Watch and it is said to be 60 percent hardier than regular aluminium. Besides, the phablet is wrapped with Gorilla Glass 4- offering great protection from wear and tear. The curved edges and matte back plate makes holdings the device easier. You will also find operating the device with single hand easier.
<strong>Display: Stunning and near flawless</strong>
You get a stunning 5.7 inch Quad HD screen in the phablet boasting AMOLED technology. With a superb 518 ppi pixel density it races ahead of most rival contenders. There are devices with 4K display now-including one by Sony-but do you really need 4K UHD resolution on a portable device? The colours pop out, images look darn sharp and you will also find the viewing angles pretty decent. Samsung has embraced the well known philosophy- “If it’s not broken, don’t fix it.”
<strong>S Pen: Stylish stylus!</strong>
<a href="http://mystictreasuretrove.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/galaxy-note5_gallery_with-spen_black.png"><img class="size-full wp-image-1022" src="http://mystictreasuretrove.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/galaxy-note5_gallery_with-spen_black.png" alt="(Source: androidcentral.com)" width="800" height="836" /></a>(Source: androidcentral.com)
The S Pen was a standout feature of Galaxy Note and it still continues to satisfy users. The design and functionality of the stylus has improved in the latest reincarnation. You will love the sleek aluminium body of the latest iteration, which has a push-button. Compared to its predecessor, the S pen bundled with Galaxy Note 5 features enhanced pressure sensitivity.
<strong>Hardware: As Good as it gets</strong>
You will expect impressive hardware spec inside a top end phablet and the Galaxy Note 5 ticks nearly all boxes in this segment. There is no Intel or Qualcomm chipset running inside the gorgeous device. Instead Samsung has used its own Exynos 7420 octa-core CPU. The powerful CPU is complemented by 4GB RAM and a Mali-T760MP8 GPU. The same GPU runs inside the Galaxy S6 too. With such configuration, the phablet runs very fast and handles heavy multitasking with ease. In synthetic benchmarks like the GeekBench3 and SunSpider, it scores extremely well.
The Galaxy Note 5 comes with either 32 or 64 GB storage, but Samsung has not included a MicroSD card slot. Wireless connectivity options are aplenty in the phablet. From 802.11ac dual band Wi-Fi to NFC and Bluetooth 4.2- you get it all. The sensors like accelerometer, barometer and proximity sensor are also there. The device also comes equipped with a fingerprint reader. Its accuracy however is not as good as that of the iPhone or even OnePlus Two.
<strong>Camera: reasonably good</strong>
The Galaxy Note 5 does not offer many improvements in terms of imaging prowess compared to its predecessor, but that is not really a bad thing! The 16 MP camera at the back of the device features OIS and 4K video recording capability. One striking feature of the phablet is its ability to display HDR before taking shots. You can capture impressive shots with the device and crispness and color reproduction is pretty good. While it does not feature the much touted laser autofocus present in rivals like OnePlus Two, be assured that the phablet is no slouch. It sets in focus and captures images pretty fast. There is a front facing 5 MP snapper as well.
Samsung has packed in useful software for the camera in Galaxy Note 5. The shooting modes are aplenty and you may like the YouTube Broadcast mode particularly interesting. It is useful for social media buffs.
<strong>Software: no more bloat</strong>
If you have grudged about the apps and heavy UI used by Samsung on top of Android in its devices, the Galaxy Note 5 comes as a breeze of fresh air! The Android 5.1.1 that runs in it is not much modified. The TouchWiz interface is still in there, but it looks more polished. Inclusion of mobile Microsoft Office suite is quite commendable and you also get the standard S Health apps. The stylus lets you execute the air commands with more ease.
<strong>Battery life: could be better</strong>
The Galaxy Note 5 is equipped with a 3000mAh battery which cannot be removed. This is a reduction in capacity compared to the predecessor. For a large phablet it falls a tad short- more so for heavy users. Most users can squeeze a day of runtime though. Samsung’s decision not to bump up display resolution may work in its favour as well.
Samsung has been clever to include wireless charging capabilities in the device and says you can charge it from zero to 100 percent in two hours approx. Even when you do not have a wireless charger, the fast charging capability of the phablet can be used.
<strong>Summing it up</strong>
Overall, the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 leaves you mighty impressed. It gets almost all things right, and the few caveats are not necessarily deal breakers. Ditching the plastic and usage of premium metal lends it a classy look and adds to longevity. The revamped S pen will be loved by productivity seekers. Hardware spec wise, the phablet leaves little room for grudges. It is a powerful device that blazes through all things you throw at it. The camera, while not much upgraded, offers excellent performances and it is pretty fast too. Some fans may be miffed by exclusion of external storage and the slightly smaller capacity battery. However, the Note 5 more than redeems for these flaws by packing in wireless charging and a stunning display.
MaanasiRadhakrishnanthewritershive@gmail.comAdministratorMystic Treasure Trove